I Am!

John 8:56-58 – Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Exodus 3:14 – God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 6:3 – I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them.

John 6:35 – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Application:

• ·         Jesus probably was not referring to any one occasion but to Abraham’s general joy in the fulfilling of the promises of God in the Messiah, by which all nations on earth would receive blessing.
• ·         Jesus did not say “I was” but “I am”, expressing the eternity of His being and His oneness with the Father.
• ·         “I AM WHO I AM” was the name by which God wished to be known and worshiped in Israel—the name that expressed His character as the dependable and faithful God who desires the full trust of His people.
• ·         The patriarchs were not totally ignorant of the name Yahweh, but that they did not understand its full implications as the name of the One who would redeem His people.
• ·         That fact could be comprehended only by the Israelites who were to experience the exodus, and by their descendants.
• ·         Jesus was God in the fullest sense.
• ·         “God is light”, but Jesus is also the light from God that lights the way for life—as the pillar of fire lit the way for the Israelites.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Glorifies Me

John 8:19,54-55 – Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”…Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.

John 16:14 – He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

John 15:10 – If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Application:

• ·         The Spirit draws no attention to Himself but promotes the glory of Christ.
• ·         Jesus stresses that the Father is known through the Son and that to know the one is to know the other.
• ·         Obedience and love go together.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Are You Greater...?

John 8:45-53 – Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 6:32.35 – Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven…Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Application:

• ·         Believers may die physically but, as those who have eternal life, their physical death is not their ultimate end. Death cannot destroy the life Christ gives.
• ·         Jesus pointed out that the manna in the wilderness did not come from Moses but from God and that the Father still “gives” the true bread from heaven (life through the Son).
• ·         Jesus was indeed far greater than Abraham, even as He was greater than Moses.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Truth

John 8:43-44 – Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Genesis 3:4 – “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Application:

• ·         The problem with Jesus’ Jewish opponents was basically spiritual, not intellectual. “Truth” is foreign to Satan and those who are his.
• ·         “You will not certainly die” was the blatant denial of a specific divine pronouncement.
• ·         Jesus is not one way among many but the only way.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Father

John 8:37-42,44 – I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me…You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Isaiah 63:16 – But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

1 John 5:1 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

Application:

• ·         “Truth” is foreign to Satan and those who are his.
• ·         Even if our human fathers abandon us, God will not.
• ·         Anyone who loves God the Father will naturally love God’s children.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Slave To Sin

John 8:32-36 – Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:18 – You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Application:

• ·         Everyone who sins is a slave to sin because sinners cannot break free by their own strength.
• ·         Christians have changed masters. Whereas they were formerly slaves to sin, now they become slaves to righteousness.
• ·         “Free” means freedom from sin, not from ignorance.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Truth

John 8:31-32 – To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 15:7 – If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Romans 8:1-2 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Galatians 5:13 – You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Application:

• ·         The Jews’ words show that they were not true believers.
• ·         It is impossible to pray correctly apart from knowing and believing the teachings of Christ.
• ·         Closely connected with Jesus, truth is not philosophical truth but the truth that leads to salvation.
• ·         “Law of the Spirit who gives life” is the controlling power of the Holy Spirit, who is life-giving. “Law of sin and death” is the controlling power of sin, which ultimately produces death.
• ·         True Christian liberty is not license to sin but freedom to serve God and one another in love.
• ·         Jesus is not one way among many but the only way.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV